Yankeemetrics: July 21-24 (Rangers)

Comedy of Errors
The Yankees lost in embarrassing fashion on Monday, committing five errors en route to a 4-2 loss against the worst team in baseball, the Texas Rangers.

It was the first time they had at least five errors in a nine-inning game since August 20, 1998 at Minnesota, and the first time at home since October 1, 1989 vs the Tigers.

Shane Greene was responsible for three of the miscues, the first Yankee pitcher with at least three errors in a game since Tommy John on July 27, 1988.

Somehow Yankee pitchers were not charged with any unearned runs despite the five errors. This is the only time in the last 100 years that the Yankees made at least five errors without allowing an unearned run in a nine-inning game. It has happened twice in extra-inning games in that span: on August 9, 2002 vs the A’s and August 18, 1927 vs the White Sox.

Chase Hero
On Tuesday Chase Headley may have started the day in Chicago as a member of the San Diego Padres, but he ended the night in the Bronx with his name in the Yankees record books.

Headley delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 14th inning in the Yankees 2-1 victory. This was the latest (in terms of innings) walk-off win ever for the Yankees against the Rangers.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Headley is the second player in franchise history to have a walk-off RBI in his debut with the team. The only other player to do that was Roy Weatherly against the Senators on April 22, 1943.

The game was scoreless through 12 innings before J.P. Arencibia hit a solo homer off David Huff in the top of the 13th. Huff is first Yankee pitcher to give up home run in 13th inning or later in a 0-0 game since Pete Mikkelsen on June 4, 1965 vs the White Sox.

Jacoby Ellsbury evened the score in the bottom of the 13th with a game-tying single, his second game-tying or go-ahead hit that late in a game this season. He is the first Yankee to have two game-tying/go-ahead hits in 13th inning or later in a season since Don Mattingly in 1984.

The Elias Sports Bureau also tells us this was the first time in Yankees history they got a game-tying hit in the 13th inning or later of a game in which they were being shut out at the time.

Rain, rain, don’t go away
The epic downpour in the Bronx on Wednesday night caused the game to be called in the bottom of the fifth inning, giving the Yankees the 2-1 win. It was their first win in a game that was called in the bottom of fifth inning since September 17, 1969 against the Senators.

This was the second time the Yankees have had a game called because of rain this season (July 13 vs Orioles, also in the fifth inning), marking the first time the team has played multiple shortened games in a season since 1999.

The last time they played two games in a season in which they pitched five-or-fewer innings in each game was 1958.

David Phelps pitched the entire game for his first career complete game. The last Yankee to get a complete-game win with no more than five innings pitched was Catfish Hunter on August 11, 1978 against the Orioles (game was called in sixth inning).

McCarthy for Mayor
The Yankees beat the Rangers again on Thursday, improving to 6-1 since the All-Star break. It is the first time they’ve won at least six of their first seven games following the break since 2009, when they won their first eight.

Brandon McCarthy had another solid outing in pinstripes, allowing only one run over six innings, and now has a 1.45 ERA in his first three starts as a Yankee.

Only two other Yankees in the last 100 years have pitched at least six innings and allowed no more than one earned run in each of their first three games in pinstripes, with the team winning each game: Tommy John in 1979 (first 4) and Kevin Brown in 2004 (first 3).

David Robertson struck out two batters in a perfect ninth inning for his 25th save of the season and his 20th save with two-or-more strikeouts. He is the first Yankee to record at least 20 multiple-strikeout saves in a single season.

Former ESPN researcher; forever baseball and Yankees fan. Now living in northern Vermont and the color of the front door of our house is Yankee blue. Also write about college football and basketball and the NFL. Bleed Huskies blue (that's UConn, of course).